Published 12:50 pm, Sunday, December 1, 2013

Even though Cyber Monday may be online only, it is by all means a continuation of Black Friday sales.

The term, referring to the Monday after Thanksgiving, came into use after retailers noted how online shopping dramatically increased on that day. Not content with shopping during Black Friday weekend, people returning to their desks at work continued spending on retailers’ websites.

So naturally, retailers caught on and began offering Cyber Monday deals that are just as good, and sometimes better, than what is offered during Black Friday, despite the longer existence of the latter day in consumers’ consciousness.

From the term’s first known usage in 2005 through 2012, annual Cyber Monday spending went from $500 million to $1.5 billion. In 2012 alone, 129 million consumers shopped online during Cyber Monday, according to the National Retail Federation.

Because retailers already put their Black Friday sales online, gameplanning for Cyber Monday is similar to preparing for its Friday counterpart. Here are some steps you should take if you feel like spending post-Black Friday weekend.

1. Wait patiently for sale previews

Unlike Black Friday advertisements, which are leaked weeks before the actual day, Cyber Monday sale prices aren’t revealed until the weekend before. Physical newspaper ads don’t exist for Cyber Monday, so retailers have more control over how information is released.

Instead of going to Black Friday ad websites, go directly to the retailer’s website and look for signs that point to Cyber Monday sales. The sale prices won’t appear until today, though, so that means that there’s less time to plan what you’re going to buy.

2. Focus on electronics

With the exception of Amazon’s announcement on Friday that several home items and clothing will be on sale for Cyber Monday, most retailers use the shopping holiday to discount electronics.

Though retailers hadn’t yet released their Cyber Monday sale items as of Friday afternoon, expect to see mostly TVs, digital cameras, laptops and software on sale. If you already scored a good deal on a TV during Black Friday, then there’s no need to double dip because discounts likely will be the same. Think of Cyber Monday as sort of a “second chance” to get a good deal if you missed out.

3. Be ready to shop in the early morning

Nearly 45 percent of Cyber Monday shopping in 2012 occurred in the early morning hours, and the vast majority of all Cyber Monday shopping was done from a computer at home, according to the National Retail Federation.

Unlike Black Friday sales, which started on Thanksgiving evening, Cyber Monday sales start at 12:01 a.m. Monday. That means shoppers have to be on their laptops, constantly refreshing the homepage of their retailer of choice until the Cyber Monday specials appear at midnight Sunday.

From my personal experience, Cyber Monday sales usually last through lunch time, so don’t fear too much if you fall asleep before midnight. But, as evidenced by on some websites hot items sold out even before Black Friday morning, it’s always best to be ahead of everyone else.